Judie Ann Photography

Thank you 2011!

2012-01-13T13:05:00.001-05:00

Wow!! Did 2011 fly by or what? It is absolutely crazy how quickly this year went by. I married the love of my life on April 23rd. Visited Italy for our Honeymoon (which I have yet to blog about), visited Peru with my dad to meet my extended family and of course made an annual trip to our favorite city, Miami.

There were definitely bumps in the road in both my personal life and my professional life but I managed to stay sane and took each day as it came. As hard as it may seem sometimes, I try to always see the positive in everything and I am blessed to have the friends I have who always lend an ear when I need to vent. However, I honestly cannot complain one bit because I wouldn't be where I am today if it weren't for those struggles and the lessons behind them!

Thank you 2011! Because of the 12 months you provided this year, I have experienced memories that will last me a lifetime!! I am now ready to embrace 2012 with open arms :-)

Thank you all for taking the time to stop by my corner of the web. You are and will continue to be a part of my journey in this life. Your kind words and encouragement always make me smile and I am grateful for that. I wouldn't have it any other way.

Here are few of my favorite images from 2011! So 2012, bring it on baby. I am ready for you!

Carol & Ryan - Liberty State Park

2012-01-09T16:48:00.000-05:00

Hi there!! I know you're probably wondering where I have been and all I can say is December was a pretty busy month for me. We bought our first Christmas tree, Mickey, as a married couple and spent time with our grandbaby Mason! Its been wonderful :-) I wanted to take the time to write about my life in 2011 but I couldn't do that without writing about my last couple of the year, Carol and Ryan.

Carol and I have been friends for almost 15 years now and even though there are times when we don't speak as often because life leads us in different directions, when we do get together, we pick up right where we left off. Those are the kind of friendships that I hold near and dear to my heart forever. You can imagine my excitement when Carol asked if I would shoot her and Ryan's engagement photos!! I was honored to say the least but super excited. We kicked off the shoot in Liberty State Park and ended in their hometown of Westfield, NJ. Meet Carol and her love Ryan!

Thank you Carol and Ryan! I had a blast hanging out with you guys and cannot wait for the next time :-)

Love,

Judie

Cuzco + Machu Picchu = Amazingness!

2011-11-16T10:43:00.000-05:00

Here is Part 2 of our Peru trip and all I can say is, the photos speak for themselves. It was truly an amazing experience and I will be sure to visit again :-) If you ever get a chance to visit, do it! You won't regret it!

The City of Cuzco!

The town of Aguas Calientes in Machu Picchu

And finally....Machu Picchu!

My dad feeling so happy that he was able to make the hike!

And that's all folks!! Thanks for sharing in our journey to this wonderful country. Thank you again to my beautiful family for making such an amazing experience!

Lima, Peru = Family (Pt.1)

2011-11-04T12:47:00.000-04:00

As some of you may know, my nationality is Cuban & Peruvian. My dad being from Peru and my mom from Cuba. My brother and I were born in the US and have never been to either country. Well, I finally got the chance to visit Peru in October with my husband and my dad. My father always makes sure to go back home every year and this year he totally convinced us to go with him. He had always asked us prior but the timing was just off so now that we were settling into married life, there was no better time than now! I must admit, I was feeling anxious, nervous and excited all at the same time, however, I was going to visit Peru with 2 out of the 4 most important men in my life and yet I felt happy and sad. Happy because I was finally going to meet family whom I had only spoken to over the phone and sad because my brother and my son were not able to join us. I had always envisioned traveling to Peru/Cuba with my brother and son in tow because I wanted to share the experience with them but alas, my wonderful hubby put me at ease and promised we would take a family trip soon. I will hold you to that babe, you hear me!

Anyways, trust me, once I got to the airport, the feeling of excitedness(?) kicked in full force :-) As much as I would love to describe each day, there were 10, I can't. This would turn out to be a 5 page post and I am super anxious to share the photos instead :-) What I can say is I am super happy that we finally got to go and I can't wait to visit again!

I have the most wonderful Aunts and the best cousins ever that did nothing but make our stay feel like home! Thank you, thank you, thank you for everything you all did for us! I love you all and miss you dearly! Until next time!

La Plaza Mayor in Lima (This is the Municipal Building of lima)

El Palacio del Gobierno (This is where the President of Lima resides)

The Post Office, my dad used to work here.

El Puente Trujillo (Trujillo Bridge which connects the city of Lima to the town of El Rimac)

El Rimac

My dad, myself, my cousin Carlos and my Aunt Elvira

LOL...The Hubs!

La Catedral de Lima (The Cathedral)

My dad's sis, Elvira!

My dad's other sister, Esperanza!

My handsome dad, Julio Nelson

That's all folks! Until next week when I post Part 2. Cyber hugs to all

Judie

Sandy + Tony = Zoey

2011-10-05T09:23:00.000-04:00

This past Sunday I had the honor of photographing the lovely Sandy Jenete and her beau Tony in Prospect Park. It was a beautiful sunny morning and the park was full of life as several obstacle courses were taking place but we were able to find a quiet spot and dove right in. Thank you Sandy and Tony for the wonderful Bambo plant but most of all, thank you for allowing me to capture this special time in your life. I can't wait to meet baby Zoey :-)

:-) Judie

Friendship

2011-09-21T12:48:00.000-04:00

"A friend is someone who knows the song in your heart, and can sing it back to you when you have forgotten the words."

This past Saturday I was able to finally get together with my girlfriends who I haven't seen in a while. It was a long over due brunch with unlimited Sangria...Heyyyy! We caught up on eachother's lives, laughed alot, argued a little and laughed some more. Ok, maybe there were a few tears shed by one person but hey, thats what friends are for right...sharing is caring people!

These girls in particular are more like family, in fact, on of them is my cousin (the not so sane one of course, love you Haze!) and the other two are amazing ladies who have shared a part of my life for a very long time! I of course, am more like the Mother Hen of the bunch. I am the oldest, shhhh, and the one that tries to be rational all of the time. So I often feel the need to look after them, make sure they are ok and to remind them that everything will work itself out. I can't help it. I love these girls and am so grateful for having them in my life. We each live very different lives now and don't get to see eachother as often as we'd like but when we do, we always pick up right where we left off!

Here are a few shots that I took in Central Park after brunch.

Haizel - The Free Spirit & my crazy a** cousin.

Yaira - The Charismatic One

Nikki - The Tenacious One

Silly Girls!

Watch out now :-)

Thank you girls for all the fun times! I look forward to making more memories with you...muah!

It's Luke!

2011-09-03T14:13:00.000-04:00

Hi Y'all! I'd like to take this time to introduce you to my good friend Luke. He is kind, has the brightest eyes and absolutely loves Elmo :-) I got the opportunity to photograph this cutie pie a few weeks ago and had a blast!

Thank you Denise and Mike for letting me play with Luke for while. We had a blast and look forward to future play dates!

Have a fabulous Labor Day!

Judie

Julian and Jaelyn

2011-08-22T16:45:00.000-04:00

I had the pleasure of capturing the bond between these little Angels on a hot summer day in July! Julian is such a ham and Jaelyn, watch out now, she is not to be messed with...lol. Thank you Diana for the opportunity!

Aren't they the cutest!

Judie

Dylan

2011-08-15T10:43:00.000-04:00

I got the opportunity to work with Dylan again one hot day in July! This time we headed out to the Bronx Botanical Gardens. Shooting in 99 degree weather is quite a challenge but Dylan never ceases to put a smile on your face!

Thank you Ana & Carlos for allowing me the opportunity to photograph Dylan again! I had a blast!

Judie

Friends!

2011-08-12T16:17:00.000-04:00

They say friends come and go. You have old ones, new ones, annoying ones, funny ones and of course, childhood ones. I feel friendships are like relationships, I mean technically it is a relationship so it takes work from both parties to make it flourish. I have had my share of great and not so great friends but thankfully, the great supercede it all.

We have friends who are always there no matter what and we have friends who we see every so often but yet pick up where we left off as if time never passed. Then we have friends who are just instant. There is just a connection from the beginning and you just know that it is a friendship that will last.

So this post is basically to give recognition to all of my friends who have been there for me at one point or another. I am truly blessed to have you in my life so thank you for being there and sharing your life with me!!

I would post photos of them all but its too many...lol. So here are a few photos from our recent trip to Miami! Spending time with old friends and making new ones ;-)

Don't ask! LMAO! I guess Cracker Barrel makes him happy.

Thank you for a great time Eli, Charly, Luly and Diego!!! We will party hard when you come to NYC!

Hugs,

Judie

Just one of those days...

2011-07-08T15:52:00.000-04:00

Ever wonder why we park in a drive way and drive in a park way? Or whether or not Lipton employees ever take coffee breaks? These are just things that make you go hmmmm....lol. Well, today is just one of those days when all you can do is laugh and keep it moving.

My weekend is filled with festivities so why not start it off on a good note :-) Every time I ask my husband to look at me when I want to take a picture of him, this is what I get:

Lordy!! Can't he even crack a smile? Oh well. At least he doesn't give me this look:

Ha!!! So there, when you're having one of those days, just laugh and keep it moving!

Have a fabulous weekend!

Judie

Noble Santiago Chapman

2011-06-27T16:41:00.000-04:00

As I sort through my last batch of sessions prior to our wedding, I came across this little peanut. Meet Noble Santiago Chapman. This precious little boy is my cousin Haizel's baby who made his debut back in April. He is too cute for words and I can't wait to photograph him again in a couple of weeks! We love you little guy!

The happy grandparents:

Hugs to all!

Judie

Well, Hello there!

2011-06-10T17:02:00.000-04:00

I know, I know, I have been "M.I.A" for over three months and boy do I have a lot of catching up to do. I made the decision to stop blogging so that I can finalize all the details for my April wedding. OMG!!! I didn't realize how much work that is and how overwhelming it can become. It is all well worth it in the end because our wedding was everything we dreamt it would be. The only downfall is that it was over in a blink of an eye! It all went so fast that its practically a blur but we had the time of our lives and we would do it again in a heart beat :-) I can now say that I truly understand what brides go through and the only way to really be helpful on such an important day is to be patient.

During my blog hiatus, I had the pleasure of being a second shooter for 3 weddings. I will post them all as well as other events I have photographed. I must admit that I went through a period where I felt I lost my "mojo" but after feeling sorry for myself, I realized it was all a learning curve and that I needed to stay positive and confident! So here I am sharing my little corner of the world with you.

I am off to enjoy my weekend so I will leave you with some photos! This is a wedding I second shot with the fabulous Tina Sbrigato. This wedding took place at the glamorous Tribeca Rooftop. Meet Danielle & Ryan!

Thank you to all those who have reached to wondering why I haven't written, it meant a lot to me to know that you all care so much!! Thank you! I am back in action!

Hugs to all,
Judie

Thank you 2010!

2011-01-05T00:30:00.000-05:00

2010 was a great year!! Its bitter sweet to have to say goodbye but I am comforted by the fact that I was able to capture so many memories and share special experiences. I kicked off my photography business and even though it's still a work in progress, I am happy I took that leap of faith and went for it. I was blessed to have met the most amazing clients and am grateful for the wonderful friendships I have made with fellow photographers along the way. I attended my first Photo Expo and got to meet a few of my favorite photographers whose blogs I follow religiously...lol.

On a personal level, I moved from the Bronx to Brooklyn and absolutely love it!! I got a new job (for the same company, but its a totally different experience), reconnected with a few childhood friends and welcomed my grandson into this world with opened arms.

So although I am ready to embrace 2011 and all it has to offer, I can honestly say that 2010 was a phenomenal year!! I have goals for 2011 that I would love to accomplish but for now I will take it one day at a time and prepare for the most important day coming my way, MY WEDDING in April!!

I thank you all for taking the time to stop by my little old blog to read my weekly ramblings but most of all, thank you for being a part of my journey. You have encouraged me with your kind words and for that I am grateful:-)

I leave you with a few of my favorite photos of the year! See you in 2011!

Cyber Hugs to all!!

*Judie*

Joy & Keith - Maternity

2010-12-30T13:55:00.000-05:00

I had the pleasure of photographing this lovely couple in their home a few weeks back and I had such a fun time! First off, I love their apartment :-) Second, Joy makes the most best tasting home fries I have ever had! So clearly, after devouring the best meal of the day, we kicked off our session. Joy was a bit nervous at first but by the end, she let out her inner Diva! You rock girl :-) Thank you Joy and Keith for allowing me to capture this moment in your lives, it was truly a pleasure.

Have a Happy New Year!!

A quick introduction to Mason!

2010-12-13T13:24:00.000-05:00

I am in complete and total awwe of this precious little gift that came into our world on November 28th. Mason Jasiah Capellan, you have no idea just how loved you are! You have amazing parents, that love you with everything they have, grandparents who can't wait to spoil you and an extended family that stretches from NYC to the depths of Peru! We are all so happy to finally have you here with us.

And without further adieu, here he is:

Great Grandma's lil Angel

Such a proud daddy!

How can you not love this little face

There will be more photos to come soon.

Joshua & Cheryl: I wish you all the happiness in the world and know that you're both going to be amazing parents to this little angel! I am proud of you both and love you dearly!

Until next time!

The PDN PhotoPlus Expo 2010

2010-11-05T16:57:00.000-04:00

When I looked at my inbox and saw the email about this years PDN PhotoPlus Expo I hesitated, again. I took a deep breath and thought "should I go?". I really wanted to, but somehow didn't think I was "good enough". I brushed it off last year because of the same reason but after really thinking it over, I knew I couldn't pass this up and if I had, then I would regret it. There wasn't anything that was going to stop me this time. I had to stop second guessing myself, I do that way too often. This time was different, I felt I earned the right to be there alongside other photographers.
Without a second thought, I purchased my ticket to what would be my very first Photo Convention.

When I tell you that I was super excited, I mean I was CRAZY SUPER EXCITED!! All I did was talk about this Expo and I think it drove Juan nuts especially when I tried to convince him that he too should be there..lol. Anyways, about a week before the event, I read that one of my most favorite photographers, Jasmine*, was going to hold a seminar about Branding. I seriously caught a case and told Juan "OMG!! Jasmine will be coming to NYC to speak at the Expo, there is no way I can miss out on that!" As much as I am sure he wanted to just roll his eyes and say "here we go", he didn't. He looked at me and smiled and with just that I knew I had his blessing.

I made my way to the Expo crazy early, by crazy early I mean I was there at 7:45am because that was early registration for GoldPass members. So of course, I felt the need to be there that early assuming other GoldPass members would too. I was completely wrong about that one! Ha! Birds were still chirping as I made my way inside the Jacob Javits Center and once I got my badge I learned the Expo didn't begin until 10am. Do I look desperate yet? No, just anxious to attend my first Photo Expo ever :-)

Anywho, as I waited in this massive venue sitting on a bench, I couldn't help but wonder what the seminar with Jasmine* would be like. I was a faithful follower of her blog and already knew so much about her from her 5 Day Creative Live Wedding Photography Course but I was about to meet her in person!!! That was a big deal people! Ok, let me contain my excitement here. So, finally 10am made its way and I entered the Expo Hall. I was completely in awe and totally OVERWHELMED! I didn't know where to start first but I quickly made my way around each booth making sure to take in as much information as I could.

A couple of hours later I met up with Angie and Nadya (these girls rock) and we picked up some over priced lunch before heading down to the seminar room. We anticipated that there would be a long line but thank goodness, we were the first one's there :-) We just hung out and chatted it up when Astami joined us and pointed towards Becker, another amazing photographer from California. Astami quickly ran over to introduce herself and take a pic, she is too cute! Once 3:45pm rolled in, we walked into the seminar and met up with two more awesome girls Julia and Lindsay and took out seats in the front row, yes we are cool like that, Ha!

Becker introduced Jasmine to the stage and for the next two hours we were enthralled by Jasmine's motivational energy, laughter and sincerity. She spoke of marketing, creating your brand and most importantly, being yourself and keeping it real! We hung around afterwards for a quick meet and greet with Jasmine and her husband JD and of course, we took some pictures!

All in all, I had a blast! And best of all, I was able to share that experience with a group of amazing ladies who share the same goals as me and aspire to be more than just a "photographer". The treat: I finally got me a Shootsac!

Angie, Nadya, Julia, Astami and Lindsey: I am so glad to have finally met you ladies and I look forward to many more gatherings :-)

Now, the photos:

The Becker!

Jasmine getting mic'd up by her husband JD.

J* with Julia

J* with Nadya

JD & Angie

J* and myself, along with her many expressions...lol

And the new addition to my family:

Have a fantabulous weekend folks!

Evelyn in the City!

2010-10-27T23:44:00.000-04:00

Evelyn and I go back, way back, back into time (cue Freestyle music). Ok, ok.. No seriously, we have known each other for almost 12 years now. We met back in 1998/99 when I was working for a Latin Music label. Evelyn attended one of the gigs with a dear friend, shout out to Steven!! We clicked from the start and have remained friends ever since. Either while I visit Boston or she visits NYC, we try our hardest to always catch up and that is exactly what we did earlier this month.

Evelyn loves NYC and so we started our shoot in Soho and ended it in Times Square. We had a fabulous time and I cannot wait to do it again!! Here are a few shots of that day!

And what better way to end the shoot than by enjoying a delicious slice of New York Pizza!

Toodles!

Cheryl & Joshua - Maternity

2010-10-12T16:41:00.000-04:00

This session is super special to me. It's special because this young couple have known each other since they were about 12 years old and have always been fond of each other. A Junior Highschool crush that once was, rekindled 7 years later. We have all experienced our first love and remember how those butterflies make you feel :-) Well now they are young adults, totally and completely in love, starting on a new journey as parents.

Please meet my son Joshua and his beautiful girlfriend Cheryl.

Joshua & Cheryl: I love you both so much and I know you're both going to be phenomenal parents!! The love you both share is unbreakable. I am excited for you both and can't wait for Baby Mason to get here!

Naomi & Richard - The Wedding Part 2

2010-09-30T15:47:00.000-04:00

"Two hearts that have been merged is marriage; two souls that have been merged is fate." - Author Unknown

Thank you Naomi and Richard for letting me capture your beautiful day. I wish you all the happiness in the world!!

Judie

Naomi & Richard - The Wedding Part 1

2010-09-27T17:02:00.000-04:00

It was a beautiful Sunday morning in August and I just knew the day was going to be perfect. Brooklyn was about to embrace yet another beautiful couple into it's domain.

When I spoke with Naomi in the morning she was so calm. Not a hint of nervousness was in her voice. She was ready. Ready to express her love to her man and walk away with a husband.

She looked absolutely stunning and the twinkle in her eyes said it all. She found her soulmate. What started off as a simple hello in Soho, evolved into a life of happiness in Brooklyn!

** I want to thank Amy Genao for second shooting this gorgeous wedding with me! Much credit is owed to Amy for all the wonderful getting ready and detail shots! Thank you Amy!

More from this fabulous couple coming this week!!

Svenja

2010-09-22T16:00:00.000-04:00

A few weeks ago I had the incredible priviledge of assisting the wonderful Amy Genao on a shoot. I came across Amy's blog through another photographers website. I checked it out and instantly loved her outgoing personality as well as her images. So, in a non-stalkerish kind of way, I hit her up on Facebook and expressed how I admired her work...lol. She graciously accepted my friend request and gladly didn't think of me as a stalker. As a new photographer trying to get my feet wet in such a competetive industry, I am all about learning everything and anything there is to learn about my craft so you can imagine my excitement when Amy, an established photographer, wrote me asking if I would be willing to assist her on a shoot :-) I am not gonna lie, the first thing I did was call "J" and say "OMG!! Amy asked me to assist her!!!" He was like "ok, who is that?" and I said "Hello, oh it's only the one photographer whose blog I have been reading all week, come on babe." Haha, yeah, he is quite the enthusiast...lol! Anyways, I was super excited to say the least.

We met up with Svenja, the model, in the West Village and the shoot went off without a hitch! Here are a few shots that I took on that day.

Thank you Amy for the opportunity to assist you. I had a wonderful time!
And thank you Svenja for being such a beautiful model :-)

Happy Wednesday!

Danyella & Isabel

2010-08-18T16:36:00.000-04:00

It was a beautiful morning in Central Park when I met up with my friend Daisy and her two beautiful daughters Dany & Isabel. Dany, the older sister, prefers her hair in a pony tail and Isabel aka Iva who is 4 is quite the little Super Star. It was their very different personalities that attracted me to them from the moment we met. Dany with her reserved demeanor, feeling me out as if wondering whether or not she would like me and Iva who ran to me with opened arms and gave me the sweetest hug ever.

I knew from that instant that the shoot would go smoothly just like I knew that it would take some time for Dany to feel comfortable and that Iva would tire out quickly because she was so anxious waiting and posing for the next shot...lol. By the time the shoot ended, Dany was my new BFF and Iva, well Iva just wanted to go to the playground and be the four year old that she is.

Meet the girls:

Everyone meet Dany

And this is Iva

How can you not smile when you see these girls!?

Such a beautiful family!

Thank you Daisy for allowing me the opportunity to meet your angels and capture their innocence through my eyes!

xoxo,
Judie

Love is Grand in Soho!

2010-07-20T11:29:00.000-04:00

They met one night while out with friends at the Soho Grand. Naomi with her buddy just chatting it up and Richard at the bar enjoying his weekend in NYC. They caught eachother's eye but neither would make the approach until Naomi decided she needed a fresh drink. She leaned into the bar and caught Richard's attention and hellos were exchanged. What started off as a night of celebrating Singledom, blossomed into an unforgettable evening that would mark the beginning of their future together :-)

Thank you Naomi & Richard for choosing me to photograph your wedding! I am honored. See you in August :-)

xoxo,
Judie

Dylan in Central Park

2010-07-09T16:23:00.000-04:00

Last month I spent the morning with Dylan and his family in Central Park. His mom and I used to work together and have always stayed in touch so I was excited when I received her email asking if I would take some photos of her little boy Dylan. I happily obliged :-) Dylan is such a Ham, he is three years old and proudly claims to be "The King of the WOrld"! His adorable mannerisms and contagious laugh truly made my morning. Here are a few shots of that day.

Have a fantabulous Weekend!!!!

xoxo,
Judie

Mali & Jimmy = LOVE

2010-06-25T15:26:00.000-04:00

When my cousin Mali told me she was coming to NYC for a visit, I was super excited. We hadn't seen each other since last October when J and I met her and Jimmy in Miami for a weekend. This visit from Mali meant so much because I would finally be able to plan a day with my girls and Trance to talk about my wedding. Mali is the only one in my bridal party who lives out of state so her being here to help pick out dresses was important to me. Anyways, this post isn't about my wedding planning, it's about Mali and Jimmy :-)

Mali and Jimmy met while in the Police Academy in Fort Myers Florida. She was a Big City girl and he a small town boy. Mali is a very outspoken, determined and strong willed person who loves all things crafty and Jimmy is your all around, laid back gentleman and Golf nut! Although they have different personalities, they compliment each other in so many ways and their love for each other is one that will never go unnoticed. Jimmy absolutely adores Mali and Mali, well, she wouldn't have it any other way...lol.

"We were given: Two hands to hold. To legs to walk. Two eyes to see. Two ears to listen. But why only one heart? Because the other was given to someone else for us to find......" - Unknown

Yowzers!!

Have a fabulous weekend!

xoxo,
Judie

Sisters: Kyra & Tatiana

2010-06-15T12:46:00.001-04:00

I had the pleasure of photographing these two beautiful sisters during their visit to NYC a few weeks ago. We decided to meet up in Bklyn to have lunch at non other than Grimaldi's. Its only the best pizza in Brooklyn :-) After lunch we walked over to the new Brooklyn Bridge Park and photographed the girls. Their laughter was contagious and I had a blast with them. Ahhh, life is sweet when you're young :-)

Thank you Ilia and Victor for allowing me to capture their bond. I love you guys and hope to see you all soon, except this time I will go to Boston!

A Piece of Me

2010-05-24T16:10:00.002-04:00

Today’s post is completely random and has nothing to do with a session but more about me just wanting to express myself. Prior to starting this blog last year, I had a personal blog. One in which I used as an outlet to express and share my personal struggles and day to day life. I created it as a way for me to journalize what goes on in my life, to keep my thoughts in order and to vent when I needed to without being judged or criticized. I went through some changes in my life, some good and some bad. I ended my friendship with a close friend and expressed my undying love to my fiancé. That blog holds so many memories, kind of like a photograph. Only a handful of people knew about that blog and began emailing me asking me why I stopped writing there. I never really had an answer for that except that I just stopped. So when I got up this morning, the first thing that came to my mind was that blog, I am not sure why but it did.

When I created my photography blog, I wanted it to be a place where I can share my journey with the other people be it friends, family or strangers. A place where I can share my photos and allow my readers to see me grow as a photographer. I believe that I am slowly accomplishing that and it makes me happy to know that people enjoy reading it. There have been beautiful comments and encouraging ones and I want to say Thank you!! I know that everyone is busy with work and has a lot going on in their lives but it really means so much to me to know that you take that time out of your day to read my blog. I read each and every comment that I get and it just gives me more confidence to continue doing what I am doing  My photos may not be out of this world but with each one I post, you get a piece of me with it.

Please feel free to stop by my personal blog whenever you’d like.

Now a post is not a post without pictures of course, so I leave you with a few shots that I took with my friend’s 5DMKII a few weeks ago! Oh my how I am in love with this camera. Have great week and thanks again for stopping by!

J reading instructions

Meet Bosco

Here is a shot of John with his pimp-mobile...lol...

Here is a view from Sunset Park, Bklyn

The Beautiful Sun & a Wedding - Punta Cana

2010-05-21T15:03:00.004-04:00

***This post is pic heavy***

Back in Mid April, J and I went to beautiful Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic for a well deserved, week long vacation. Thank goodness for Henry & Rosi for picking such a beautiful island to exchange their vows. We were initially going for their wedding but decided to extend our stay so that we cna make it a vacation of sorts. Of course, any tropical island is a vacation, but for us, this would be our last vacation before we exchange our vows next year.

We stayed at the beautiful NH Real Arena Resort and booked our Outback Safari Tour. Well, its not really a Safari tour per say, but it is an all day tour up in the country side where we got to visit two homes and a beautiful secluded beach. The first stop showed us how they make Chocolate and Coconut Oil and the second stop demonstrated how they made coffee and rolled cigars. Our final stop was at the beautiful Bavaro Beach. We had a fabulous time and would recommend the tour to anyone who visits Punta Cana.

The fabulous Kim Mintzer was also there to photograph Henry & Rosi's wedding and did an amazing job capturing their love for eachother. You rock kim!! I brought good'ole Lucy with me and was able to sneek in a few shots of my own...hahahaha.

The trip was an absolute delight and we had such a fun time with an abundance of fabulous people. Now to show off the pics....hahaha.

Have a great weekend!

The Hotel grouds

Our tour guide Alex

Amazing view

J with the children from the village

Cocoa anyone?

J and the fabulous Kim Mintzer

Time for some a-a-a-a-a-alcohol!

or perhaps a cigar...

Time to buy some souvenirs

And now some shots of the Bride and Groom

Henry having a moment with his mom

That's all folks!!

Elisa & Johnny - Wedding

2010-05-14T00:57:00.002-04:00

Elisa and Johnny were Junior Highschool sweethearts who reunited a couple of years back after realizing that maybe what seemed to be a crush so many years ago was actually love!! Although nearly twenty years had gone by, they both new that no matter what, nothing was going to separate them again. Here's to love, old and new. I wish you both all the happiness in the world!!

The Mr & Mrs!

Father Daughter Dance...such a beautiful moment!

Anais & Family

2010-04-26T12:43:00.003-04:00

I met Mara almost 5 years ago through a mutual friend. Through out these 5 years, I have always tried to stay in contact Mara and her husband Mach. Well, we lost contact through out the last 3 years until I found Mara on Facebook a couple of months ago. The last time that we had actually gotten together was for our mutual friend's daughter's bowling party and Mara's baby Anais was barely a year old.

It was great to go through her Facebook albums and see that her daughter Anais was already 3 years old. She also had a boy, Johnny, and Mara was pregnant with baby #3.
While going through her albums, I stumbled upon a few pics that showed Anais at a Hospital receiving Chemo. My heart crumbled to pieces when I realized that Anais had been diagnosed with Leukemia. Tears came to my eyes and I wanted desperately to reach out to Mara but what does one parent say to another parent with a sick child? I continued to look at the rest of the pictures and just prayed. She was so young, a full life a head of her and yet here she is fighting a battle that she didn't see coming.

At the ending of March, Mara reached out to me. She wanted to know if I would be willing to take pictures of Anais. She told me how Anais would be undergoing another round of vigorous chemo treatments in mid-April and since Anais had been in really good spirits lately, she wanted to take the opportunity for some photos outside. I immediately wrote back and said that I would be honored to photograph Anais.

We decided to hold the shoot in Prospect Park on Easter Sunday. J accompanied me on the shoot, his second time working as my assistant....LOL. It was a beautiful morning and when I met Anais, I was completely in awe with how much energy she had. She rode her tricycle the whole way down towards the pond. She was laughing and playing, she had a blast. I tell you, her energy was contagious. Despite the harsh sunlight (the trees in the park were still bare and so there wasn't much shade being offered by the pond) I was able to not only photography Anais at play with Little Johnny, but I took some maternity shots of Mara as well as family shots.

It was truly a humbling experience for me. To see such a beautiful soul filled with so much energy I just knew that Anais was a fighter. She isn't giving up her battle and I know she will live a long a healthy life. Anais, thank you so much for allowing me the opportunity to meet you. I admire your strength and positive energy. Thank you Mara and Mach for making my Easter Sunday an unforgettable one.

Here are my favorite shots of the day!

I invite you all to visit Anais's website where you can read journal entries on her cancer journey, please take a look and pass on the site to anyone that may be interested in her story.

Big Hugs,
Judie

Photo Fun with Lauren

2010-04-01T16:30:00.006-04:00

The last time Lauren and I got together was in the fall for a quick lunch at Toscas, a delicious Italian Bistro in the Bronx. We both have been super busy and just haven't had the time to get together and catch up until last Saturday. We headed over to Nathan Blaney's studio so that I could take some photos of her for her new website. This trip to Nathan's made it extra fun for me since he was totally giving me the opportunity to use his photo studio and his collection of lenses :-) So let's just say it was a play date of sorts...lol.

Nathan, it was a pleasure to finally meet you!! Thank you so much for all your advice and continued support. Hi Kathy!! Girl, that crumb cake was ridiculously delish!!

Lauren, I had a wonderful time finally catching up with you. I miss you already!! Love you girl!

And now, here is the end result of our play date!

Check out Lauren's latest website here!

Have a fabulous weekend!

Judie

Weekend with Haizel & Sydney

2010-03-23T13:39:00.004-04:00

This past weekend was the first weekend of Spring and my cousin Haizel was coming over with her daughter Sydney. We took the train in and got off at City Hall so that we can walk the Brooklyn Bridge. It was a beautiful day and the bridge was crowded with locals and tourists. I, of course, had "Lucy" with me so I was able to finally take some pictures of them. Its hard to get Sydney's attention but I got some good shots...lol.

After crossing over to Brooklyn, we headed over to Grimaldi's for some much needed pizza. If you haven't had Grimaldi's yet, you must! It is the best thin crust pizza I have ever had. Just be prepared to wait on line for at least an hour before you get in, that's how good it is!

After lunch, we walked down to Brooklyn Bridge Park and took in the sights of the city from across the river while Sydney played the harmonica and J sang along...lol. She loves her Uncle J so much and was so sweet to watch them together. We had a great time and can't wait for them to come over again :-) Now it's time to meet Haizel and Sydney!

We love you guys, let's get together again soon!

Big hugs,

Judie

The Rivera Family

2010-03-17T16:25:00.002-04:00

It feels as though it was just yesterday that J & I attended Edawn and Freddie's wedding and yet here I am writing about my family session with them and their baby Hayden Elizabeth that took place this past Sunday. My goodness, how time flies.

Edawn and I met at work and became instant friends. At the time, she was super busy planning her wedding to Freddie that was to take place the following year. We started to have lunch together and even learned how to knit together..lol..(which reminds me, where are those needles?...hmm) Anyways, lunch together lead to dinners with our significant others which then lead to summer BBQ's together. Now here we are, over 2 yrs later and I am the one planning my wedding now.

Little Hayden Elizabeth Rivera was born on September 27th, 2009. She is 5mths old and as precious as ever! Thank you Edawn and Freddie! I had a wonderful time with your family :-)

And here is the shot the put an end to the shoot:

Hayden was a trooper, but when she says its over, its over!

Thanks again Freddie and Edawn!

Big hugs,
Judie

Shaila Mariyah - 2 Weeks Old

2010-02-19T15:32:00.006-05:00

I remember the day that my friend Janessa told me she was expecting baby number two. It was at a BBQ that "J" and I hosted over the summer at a local park when Janessa and her husband Greg drove in from NJ to spend the day with us. Their daughter, Janasia, was about a year and a half at the time and so I was excited to just pull out my camera and start taking pictures. While sitting on the blanket with Janasia, her mom asked me to look at her shirt and when I did, it said something like "Mommy's got a little bun in her oven", ..something to that effect, but I think you get the idea..lol.

Anyways, I read it twice, then I looked at her, then her husband and I just totally flipped out! I remember I kept yelling over to "J" Honey, they are having baby number 2 and we toasted to our water bottles...lol.
Well, its been about 9 mths and Janessa had baby girl #2, Shaila Mariyah! The minute she text me to let me know her bundle of joy had arrived, I jumped at the chance to take her newborn photos!

Welcome to the world Shaila! You are loved by so many :-)

Thank you Janessa and Greg for letting me spend Valentine's morning with you and your two Angels!

Time for introductions, meet Shaila!

**Basket and Knitted blanket provided by Touch Of Romance.

Shaila and Mommy

Shaila and Daddy

Mommy and Daddy

and big sister Janasia!

Have a Fantabulous weekend!!

Judie

** Basket and knitted blankets were provided by Mayra Ortiz, Touch of Romance. Check out her wide collection of knitted and crochet blankets and baby sweaters here.

Alyssa's Sweet Sixteen (Pic Heavy)

2010-02-12T11:20:00.003-05:00

A little over a month ago I was contacted by a mom who was looking for a photographer for her daughter's Sweet Sixteen. She was referred to me by her sister who visited my blogsite after seeing my friend Hencys' photos (wow, I said that all in one breath..lol). After a few email exchanges, she booked a date.

I was a nervous wreck, as I always am before a shoot but I was quickly at ease when my friend Hencys, who was hired to do their make-up, said she would keep me company for the rest of the event. We got to the venue, set up and everything went on without a hitch! We had a fun time and I was grateful to have been able to capture those memories for them!

Miriam and Alyssa, Thank you for allowing me to spend time with you and your family on such a special occasion :-)

Some details:

The Birthday Girl:

Mother & Daughter

Daddy's Little Girl

A party isn't a party without doing the Electric Slide!

Have a great weekend all!!

Judie

NYC, how I love thee!

2010-01-14T10:29:00.003-05:00

It baffles me sometimes when I walk past a monument in NYC that has always been there but I just never noticed until that day. I am then reminded that I live in such a wonderful city that I took for granted while growing up. We just don't realize how much there is to see and visit here because we figure "eh, I live here so I can visit this anytime I want" but in reality, we never make the time.

Growing up I have lived in so many different places, visited different cities and always wound up back in NY. Here is just a jist of what I mean: My parents lived in NYC when they met and married. When my mom found out she was pregnant with me, they moved to NJ. I was born in Jersey City, NJ in 1973. We then moved to Inglewood, CA where my mom had my brother in 1976. From Cali we moved to Connecticut, from Connecticut we moved to Miami, from Miami we moved to NYC (Washington Heights), then we moved to Jackson Heights, NY, then back to Washington Heights where we finally settled. I was 8yrs old. When I was 21 I moved back to Miami only to end up back in NYC less than 2 yrs later. I am starting to realize that NYC is where I will stay and I am totally happy with that.

Anyways, the whole reason for my post is not to bore you with where I have lived and why but to share with you all about how much I appreciate this great City. "J" and I try our best to schedule "Date Day" at least once a month and usually he is the one that plans it. I decided I wanted to plan out our first "Date Day" of the new year and so I did. Neither one of us have ever visited the Top of The Rock, in fact we never heard of it until this year. Its always been there but we never knew about it. We kept hearing from friends how the view was amazing and that it was a better view of the city than the Empire State Building. So of course, we began our date with a visit to Top of the Rock.

How breath taking is this? Central Park looks like a playground from up here:

How about this view? Its Gotham City people!! LOL!

Here is a pic I took on the way out:

After taking this all in, we headed to dinner at El Cantinero. Delicious Mexican food in the Union Square area. Once we re-fueled, we made our way to the Daryl Roth Theatre to catch the show Fuerza Bruta. (Side note: I apologize for not having pics of the restaurant or the show, my battery had died and I left my back up battery at home) Be sure to check out the link to Fuerza Bruta, its a must see show for sure!! To wind things down, we decided to hit up Max Brenner's for some much needed hot chocolate and desert!

On the way home, we talked about how much fun we had and we decided to make it a point to add a visit to a place in the city that we've never seen before on all our future dates. Its our way of getting to know this great city and appreciating it for all it's beauty! Thank you NY for always being there, we love you! And like the song says "If you can make it there, you'll make it anywhere, its up to you, New York New York!!

Nadhir - "You Glow Girl!"

2009-12-22T15:01:00.004-05:00

Good friends are few and far between, but when you recognize who those people are, you hold them dear and appreciate their friendship. Nadhir is one of those people who I can honestly call one of my best friends. He is funny, extremely talented (a triple threat in his own right...he can sing, dance and act) and a wonderful father! Nadhir asked me to take his headshots for him. He was cast as "Antoine" the gay make-up artist and founder of "You Glow Girl" for a new pilot that will be in production soon. It was colder than ice on Friday but we had a blast during the shoot!!

Here is a little history:

Nadhir and I first became friends when I was working out at Bally's. I had just moved back from Miami and needed to get in shape (go figure, you'd think I would be in shape living in Miami...not for me). Nadhir was a personal trainer there and after giving me a few pointers on what I should and shouldn't be doing with the machines, we just hit it off. At that time, Nadhir was also singing with a Latin band on the weekends. After a few months of hanging out with Nadhir and his boy band I got laid off from work (no, I didn't get laid off because I was hanging out with him and his boy band....just wanted to make that clear :-)). He referred me to his production company since they were in need of a receptionist at the time. I met with the owner and started working with them the next week. That is where my 8 year journey with the music industry began!! The journey itself would need its own post along with pictures so I will save it for next time...lol.

The point is Nadhir and I have always remained the best of friends up until this day and I couldn't be more proud of him. I have witnessed him evolve as a person and become the amazing father that he is today. We have been through our ups and downs, have shared the loss of an amazing mentor (Joe, we miss you!) and have become part of eachother's families. So now I say to him, Thank you Nadhir! Thank you for being a great friend!

And since a post isn't a post without pictures, here are a few headshots I took of him at Brooklyn Bridge Park this past Friday. He really liked the brick background from my last shoot with Hencys and wanted the same effect.

And here are a few we took just for fun:

And here are my faves:

I want to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Fantabulous New Year!!!
See you all back here in 2010!

Judie

Hencys - The Make-up Artist

2009-11-25T12:07:00.003-05:00

I had the pleasure of meeting Hencys in October when we worked together for Edessa's headshots. Her warm smile and charming personality put me at ease and we became instant friends. Yes, I get "supa" nervous before every shoot...(blushing). Hencys is a professional make-up artist. We got to talking about my wedding planning and then my blogsite. She told me she was working on getting her website together and needed some pictures so we stayed in touch and before we knew it, the day was here.

Hencys suggested that we meet at Fulton Ferry State Park, better known as Brooklyn Bridge Park because she had never been to that part of Brooklyn before. I couldn't be happier. Now that I am an official Brooklynite I was excited to show her that part of the borough. It was a beautiful Saturday morning when we met. We started with headshots and then she unleased her inner diva...lol. I knew you had it in you girl!!

After the shoot, we hit up the famous "Grimaldi's Pizzeria", another "first" for Hencys, for some much needed lunch.

And now for some pics....

Thank you Hencys for a wonderful Saturday morning and for allowing me to show you one of the many beautiful areas of Brooklyn! Booyah!!

If you would like to know more about Hencys Make-up services, please email me and I will give you her contact information.

Have a safe and blessed Thanksgiving!!!

Zolanyi - Pre-Wedding Photos

2009-11-04T01:26:00.002-05:00

When my friend Carlos reached out to me and asked if I would take his fiance's pre-wedding photos, I was thrilled!! I was so happy to be given the opportunity that I had a cheese smile for days...lol. (I know, I can be corny sometimes but don't say I didn't warn you). Carlos and I have been friends since about 2000 and although we have gone in different directions, we have always stayed in touch :-) You see, Carlos is a musician and plays with many Latin artists. I (back then) was the Executive Assistant/Road manager for a production company and so we worked together a lot. I decided I had had enough of the industry and wanted something more stable so I moved on..oh how I miss it though. The late night rehearsals, bus trips to Boston and endless concerts at Madison Square Garden...:-(

Ok, fast forward almost 10 years and Mr. Carlos is getting married to the beautiful Zolanyi. Here are the pics from that day (October 4, 2009). The "getting ready photos" that is...just wanted to clarify.

Carlos and Zoly: I wish you both all the happiness in the world and many babies..hehehehe. I love you both dearly!!

Zoly's dad and step dad

And she's off to meet her King!

Edesa - A Beautiful Soul

2009-11-04T00:14:00.003-05:00

On October 3, 2009 I had the absolute pleasure of being in the company of one of my dear friend's mom, Edesa. This woman is truly a beautiful soul inside and out. She exudes intelligence and graciousness in how she carries herself and has such a beautiful smile to go with her big heart. Edesa is the founder of "Fundacion Alba y Ocaso" (FAO) and needed some headshots for her organization's upcoming website. We drove down to her daughter's office where we met up with Hencys, the awesome make-up artist. Even though it rained all morning, the overcast sky offered some great light during the shoot, thanks to the floor to ceiling windows in the office....lol.

Thank you ladies for a wonderful time and thank you Edesa for allowing me to capture your graciousness through my eyes!

Here are a few pics of Hencys the Make-up Artist at work!!

Edesa & Hencys

Some info on Edesa's organization "Fundacion Alba y Ocaso":

"Fundacion Alba y Ocaso" is a non-profit organization founded Edesa Mateo to improve the socioeconomic status of underprivileged children in the Dominican Republic. Their goal is to improve their standard of living and help meet their basic needs through locally based events, projects and initiatives.

In Latin American countries, the 6th day of the New Year is when children receive gifts from the Three Kings rather than from Santa Claus at Christmas. The day commemorates the Three Wise Men - Melchior, Gaspar and Baltazar - who followed the star to Bethlehem, bringing gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh for the Baby Jesus. We are currently working on our annual toy drive, a seasonal project implemented to provide the needy children of the province of La Vega with new toys on January 6th, The Day of the Kings (El Día de Los Reyes).

FAO will be accepting donations September 28 thru November 15, 2009.

There is no magic percentage or dollar amount. We welcome anything that you can afford to give just as long as it comes from the heart.

If you would like to make a donation, please make your check payable to:

“Fundacion Alba y Ocaso”

And mail it to:

1025 Esplanade Avenue #5D

Bronx, NY 10461

**Please note that FAO, EIN# 27-0263269, is a type B corporation pursuant to section 201 of the New York State Not-For-Profit Corporation Law. As such, you will receive a receipt from the organization in the mail for your tax-deductible contribution with our appreciation.

If you would like more information regarding the services of Hencys the Make-up Artist, please feel free to email me directly at Judiejaz2k@yahoo.com and I will relay the message to her.

Hugs to all!!

Judie

Ashley - Headshots

2009-10-02T00:03:00.005-04:00

Last Saturday I had the pleasure of working with Ashley, the sweetest most talented seven year old I have ever met. Ashley needed new headshots for her portfolio. We chose Central Park for the location and had a wonderful time. She is a true natural in front of the camera and even directed her own poses. Thank you Ashley for a fun day! I wish you all the best and I am confident that your big break will come soon enough!!

Here are a few random shots that I took of Ashley with her dad.

Ashley directed these poses herself.

Practicing for the Father-Daughter dance :-) I think this picture truly captures their bond.

Thank you both for sharing a little bit of yourselves with me!!

Our visit to the new Yankee Stadium :-)

2009-09-13T19:18:00.003-04:00

My last visit to the old Yankee Stadium was in 2004 so you can imagine my excitement when I finally went to a game at the new stadium yesterday. It is beautiful and so opened!! We were seated behind 1st base on the second level. Here is what we saw.

The one and only!

My boys:

Some pics I as we were leaving....we lost the game against the Baltimore Orioles :-(

A crowd of Yankee fans as the leave

"Let's go Yankees Let's go!!" Until next time....

Is Summer over already?? (Pic Heavy)

2009-09-01T23:13:00.004-04:00

Just when I thought that the Summer would hang on for a little while longer, poof, it's gone!! One week we're having hot, humid 95 degree whether and the next we get cool, breezy nights. Don't get me wrong, I would much rather sleep comfortably in cool breezy weather than waking up having to peel my face off my pillow because I am drenched in sweat. Yes, I do have an air conditioner people but times are hard and Con Edison is beating people up with the high electric bills so I try to use my handy fan when need be. Ok, enough of my ranting...lol. I obviously felt the need to get that off my chest. Must be because I only hit the beach 2 times this summer and I am an absolute Sun Whore. I love tanning despite the fact that my skin will probably wrinkle before my time but hey, who is paying attention to my wrinkles anyway....LMAO! Ok, Ok. I promise, I will stop.

Over the weekend,I had the pleasure of attending two events. On Saturday I went to my friend's baby shower. I was worried because Tropical Storm Danny was supposed to hit NYC hard on Saturday but to my surprise after a cloudy morning, the sun peaked through and made a dreary day beautiful! There were a lot of people there and the DJ totally rocked the party out. I had "Lucy" with me so here a few pics of that day.

I loved the Centerpieces!

The DJ

Just a few of the guests at our table, Casey and Hildegard

Nardo and his son Aiden

Here is Aiden with his dad again... I love this pic!! Too cute not to post!

This was the only time I got Aiden and Tyler to sit still...Aiden is saying "cheese" while clenching his teeth..lol.

ok, just one more of Aiden...he is such a cutie

And finally the lovely mommy to be Edawn and her husband Freddie....this was the only one shot that actually made it, ignore all the elbowing :-) You did an amazing job planning the shower Freddie!

On Sunday, we headed over to a BBQ that our dear friends Janessa and Greg were having at the Ross Dock Picnic area underneath the George Washington Bridge (NJ side). Here are some random shots from that day.

Here is my step-son on the swing

Here is Janessa with Janasia

Well, that's all folks! For now anyways :-)

Lauren Sosa - Highline Park

2009-08-17T16:55:00.005-04:00

Lauren and I go back, way back...back into time...lol. Sorry, couldn't help myself there :-) We have known each other since we were kids. The funny thing is that we have not seen each other in almost 20 years. Thanks to this cute little networking site known to the whole world as Facebook, Lauren and I reconnected. I was super excited to have found her and her sister Angie. Ahhh, to reminisce about the good 'ole days. We caught up on each other's lives, the good and the not-so-good, the experiences with our children, the many vacations and of course the happy stories. After several invitations, Lauren and I finally met up on the night of August 1st at a movie premier. As we stood in line in the lobby of the theatre, Ms. Lauren mentioned to me about her wanting to get into acting. She had the connections and needed photos to get everything in order. I mentioned to her about my love for photography and how I was building a portfolio and so we knew we were destined to somehow work together.

The following evening Lauren called me and asked if I would take her head shot's. I of course, said yes. Now she doesn't know that after we agreed on the details, I jumped up for joy from the excitement!! Well ok, so now she knows...lol. I was just grateful that someone took a look at my work and gave me the opportunity to show them what I was capable of. She trusted me enough to get the job done. Now I am in now way a professional, just yet, but I am a "professional in training" and so I know what I am and am not capable of. Well enough of my babbling, let's move on to some pictures!!

Thank you Lauren for allowing me the opportunity to do this for! Te Quiero Mucho chiquita!

**Disclaimer: I am still learning how to re-touch so please bare with me...lol**

That's all folk's!!

EDC Picnic at Coney Island

2009-08-10T22:43:00.006-04:00

On Friday August 7th, EDC had their Annual Summer Picnic. This year it was held at Coney Island. Coney Island is on the verge of being either re-vamped (God-willing) with help of City Funding and private donations or shut down completely to make space for a resort. A third of the parks attractions have been shut down so far but the spirit of Coney Island has not diminished. Living in NYC almost all my life has made me realize that there is so much that us New Yorker's take for granted. The beautiful city skylines, the colorful Botanical Gardens and the youthful sounds of children playing in the parks. I love this city and the older I get the more respect I have the wonderful city that has become my home!! I am not sure how much longer I will live here but I know for sure that I will always carry NYC in my heart forever.

Here are a few pics of Coney Island and my co-workers:

The Parachute Tower

The Wonder Wheel

The Best Roller Coaster

Sumo Wrestling with the Executives

EDC'ers Looking on

The Beach @ Coney Island

Lyndell

Jade

Mayra

Cosimo

David and Delando

Fred and Juan

Until Next time!! Enjoy the rest of your summer!

Another test post

2009-08-06T11:44:00.002-04:00

Photo size test Post

2009-08-06T11:17:00.000-04:00

I am hoping this will work.

Just some minor tweaks...

2009-08-04T17:11:00.002-04:00

IMG_0811, originally uploaded by Judiejaz.

Peek-a-boo, I see you!

Hanging at the Highline

2009-08-04T16:11:00.008-04:00

Last Sunday Juan and I decided to go visit the new Highline Park down by 14th street that used to be an old elevated railroad track. We met up with the Chapmans as well as Nikki and her momma Jain!! It downpoured that day but not until well after we left the park. The sun struggled to peak out through the clouds but it left it's mark before hiding out :-) I definitely look forward to visiting the Highline again and hopefully this time the sun will shine a bright smile.

Here are a few pics of the Chapmans!

And of course Little Sydney!

Good Times with Family & Friends!

2009-07-20T00:59:00.005-04:00

Yesterday Juan and I decided that we wanted to get together with friends and just hang out. So we planned a spur of the moment BBQ for today. The sun was beaming, I mean I was dripping from head to toe in sweat but we stuck it out and enjoyed the weather but most of all, we enjoyed our company. What is better than great burgers, chilled beer and awesome conversation??

Thanks to everyone there who allowed me to practice with "Lucy" today, you were all great models. Big hugs!

I Love New York! Part Deux

2009-07-18T02:24:00.003-04:00

How can you not love this City?

Vanessa Joy is 2!

2009-07-09T22:35:00.001-04:00

A couple of weeks ago Juan and I attended a birthday picnic for my one of my dear friend's daughter Vanessa. She was turning two years old. She is growing up so fast and is the splitting image of her daddy..lol.

Vanessa's mommy Tara and I grew up together. We have known each other since we were 12 years old so that's about... hmmm 24 years now...oh geez, that is truly a long time! We were the best of friends in high school but then we lost touch when her mom passed away and she was sent to Long Island to live with her Auntie. We kept in touch every so often for the next 3 yrs but then we just lost touch. We finally reconnected again in 2004 when I came across her aunt's number and figured I would try to call. Thank God the number was the same, we spoke and planned to meet. It was truly a tearful reunion because about 15 years had passed since we had seen each other so I fell to tears when I saw her. She looked just like her mom did. Here we were at Fibbers in L.I. crying and hugging. We talked for hours that night and swore that we would not lose touch again.

A couple of months later Tara was coming going into the city to meet me since she was going to spend the weekend at my home. I told her that I had to go to my son's school to attend a Parent/Teacher conference and so I gave her the option of either waiting at my house or coming with me. She chose the latter...a decision that she is totally grateful for. As Tara waited in the hall way for me to finish up with the teacher's, she got acquainted with my son's English teacher who went by the name "Mr. G". A total hottie so it didn't surprise me that she was flirting with him when I went to get her...lol. They said their goodbyes and we were on our way. The following Monday my son comes home and tells me that he had a note from Mr.G for Tara. I was in complete shock and thought "check this guy out! Using my son to pimp himself out to my friend!". My son laughed at me and said "mom, you know you're going to call Tara" with the biggest cheese smile on his face and so of course, I called her.

Tara's screams of excitement nearly made me deaf...I gave her the number and she called. Two months later, Tara moved from L.I. to Sleepy Hollow (Westchester) to live with Mr.G and a year later they got married!!! My son was the guest of honor at their wedding and the rest is history. Vanessa Joy is the blessing that was created by this beautiful couple!! Ahh..the memories.

Tara and Tommy Gonzalez, also known as "The Gonzo's" will forever be a part of our lives!! We love you guys. Here are the pics from the picnic.

This is Pierce

Here is Vanessa in action

This is Kiana, Pierce's big sister

Mrs. G and Vanessa

Mr. G and Mr. C....lol

We love you mama!

I love New York!

2009-07-06T22:03:00.013-04:00

This fourth of July, Juan and I decided to walk the Brooklyn Bridge. I had never walked the bridge before and since the weather was beautiful we figured why not? We started out on the Manhattan side of the bridge.

The sky was clear and the lovely breeze was soothing. Lucy (my camera...yes, she has a name) deserved to be out and about since the last few weekends were muggy and gray. I gently took her out of her bag and started clicking away. She must have been in a very good mood because she delivered priceless pictures.

After we made it to Brooklyn we decided ehh, what the heck, let's walk back. It was a beautiful day for sure!! Hope everyone had a fabulous 4th of July!!!

A New Start

2009-07-06T17:18:00.000-04:00

Welcome to my Photo Blog! The place where I will share my love for photography and document my journey to making my dream come true.

Who: Judie Ann Zevack (soon to be Castro :-)) A strong, motivated, independent woman who is trying to make it in a competitive world. I am engaged to my "Prince Charming" and am a mom to "J" and step-mom-to-be to "B".

What: I have always loved photography and it's always been a part of my life. I can assure you all that my friends and family have been annoyed one too many times by my persistence on documenting anything that's interesting to me...lmao!! What can I say, every picture I take is a memory of that moment for me, it will forever be linked to a particular time in my life so why not capture it.

Why: Because I love it! I enjoy capturing moments, it's my way of stopping time even if just for a brief second. Through my eyes you will see what I see and how I see it!

Hope you Enjoy!

Judie-Jaz